Abstract

Ethical lapses by employees can put organizations at substantial risk. Improved compliance procedures can help limit this risk, but successful efforts must go beyond compliance to build a culture of organizational integrity. Recent changes in regulatory requirements and more stringent sentencing guidelines demand an integrated approach to ethical awareness. Building organizational integrity in the face of ongoing business pressures requires an integrated approach to business ethics including controls, clearly defined principles and purpose, core values, and culture. Inevitably, the most difficult of these is building a culture of high ethical standards that are reflected in day to day practice. Overcoming the barriers to building organizational integrity includes questioning key organizational practices while building a culture based on ethical behaviors.